Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The Greens can see the direction from which the coalition is coming on this issue, and it is a similar direction to that from which the Greens are coming, which is that we need—and I would probably couch this as a question to the coalition—to establish a plan by which the Commonwealth is investing in the water-saving infrastructure program. As I articulated earlier, the Greens believe that we need a coordinated approach to that.

However, I have also listened to the minister’s comments about this potentially taking away their ability to make some decisions further down the track, in terms of some of the projects that are coming up. She said this might actually stop some of their future decision making. I am wondering if my assessment of this amendment is correct—that it is about establishing a plan for how we will go about putting in place this infrastructure program. Also, Senator Nash, I would like your opinion on the minister’s comments just then about how it might tie their hands on some of their investments.